Test checking apparatus



Feb- 6, 1934. J. E. ROBERTS 1,945,361

TEST CHECKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. l0, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 UDDI] UDDI] Amun cancunn DEUD UDDI] aIJIIIDUU UDDI] l] [Il] DDU DDU UUIJU DDDU DUI] l [ICICII] D DDI] [IUDEI DUU DUDE] DEUD D IIIDDD QUEDE] CIDUDEI [IDU INVENTOR im); Ab/PM@ AW Feb. .6, 31934. 1 E, ROBERTS 1,946,361

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TEST CHECKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1o, 1932 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR jun? 'M//flb W' MAI/@h "ff W tm/0 4. n CCCECEECEEECEECCC: :c

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for rapidly and accurately checking test papers and cards.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which contains within a relatively small areaa great number of type elements, together with simple and rapidly operable means for rendering effective at will the various individual type elements of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is tovprovide gg in apparatus of this character a simple self-contained structure for bringing the test paper or card to be checked into printing relation with such individual type elements as have been so adjusted as to render them effective.

In the accompanying drawings Figure I is a plan view of my improved test paper checking apparatus; Figure II is a horizontal sectional view thereof, taken on Figure III is a side elevation of the apparatus; Figure IV is a detail view showing the type elements and the means for setting them individually; and Figure V is a fragmentary plan view of a test paper or card suitable for use with my'improved apparatus.

In the accompanying. drawings reference numeral 1 designates the casing of the apparatus, and reference numeral 2 designates the top plate through which the operating means for the type elements 3 extend. As hereinafter explained in detail these type elements 3 are arranged to project downwardly a greaterl or lesser distanceA within the easing 1, being in effective position when they project the greater distance downwardly."

Within the body of the casing is a platen 4, movable vertically, and having its horizontal position determined by guide post 5 passing through apertures in the platen. Lying between type elements 3, in their position of lowermost extension, and the upper face of platen 4, is an inked tape 6, mounted on and extending between manually-operable rollers 7. A horizontally arranged slot 8 in the side of casing 1 provides for insertion of a card or papery into the interior of the casing to lie upon the upper face of the platen 4.

Platen 4 may be raised and lowered by means of eccentricsgQ, which bear against the under face of the platen, and which are mounted on cross shafts 10. One cross shaft may be oscillated by means of a handle 11 directly connected to it. The other cross shaft is simultaneously oscillated by means of a connection comprising cranks 12 and 13 and a connecting rod 14.

Top plate 1 is so arranged that the operating elements project in regular rows or tiers therethe pins project.

pins 16 the line II-II of Figure III;

(Cl. lOl-102) from with the type elements 3 forming downwardly-extending continuations of the operating means projecting through type bars 15. In the assembly of operating means, the type elements 3 are in the form of rods having upper rounded faces 3a. Operating pinsv 16 havel their lowery faces 16a rounded to coact with theupper rounded faces of type elements 3. Upward movement of the vassembly is limited by shoulders 16hl on the operating pins, bearing against the under face of plate 2 adjacent the apertures 1'7 through which f A coil spring 18, attached to each of the type elements 3, and seated in a type bar at 19, positions each of the type elements, and urges the type elements 3 and pins 16 up- Wardly. The upper face of each of the operating is provided with an indentation 16e adapted to receive the point of a pencil or stylus.

Each of the pins 16 has at least one intermediate inclined region 16d, and the plate at each aperture 17 has an inclined region 17a positioned in co-operative relation to the inclined region 16d on the pin projecting through the aperture. In setting a type, pressure is applied to a pin 16 forcing it downwardly, against the resistance of coil spring 18, and the pin is rocked laterally on type rod`3 so that shoulder 16e at the base of inclined region 16d engages under the edge of the aperture 1'7, toward which edge it is rocked. Type rod 3 is thus forced downwardly, -to project an increased distance inwardly of the cas` ing, and is held in that position, against the force exerted by spring 18, by the engagement of shoulder 16e on pin 16 with the edge of the aper ture.

The test card which is to be checked is designated generally by the reference numeral A. This card is provided with a margin 20, spaces 21 for identifying data, and with a plurality of lined off spaces 22, desirably having an identifying numeral associate-d with each of the rows or tiers thereof. Y The numbers and arrangement of the spaces correspond to the number and arrangement of the type elements 3. The effective receiving area for the card on platen 4 is such that, when a card is introduced through slot 8,

yeach marked offispaceon the card lies beneath a particular type element and its operating pin. The type rods 3 may thus be knowingly adjusted individually to co-operate With any particularv space or spaces on the underlying card. V

In use of the apparatus, the card A is marked by a person taking the test, in accordance with his understanding as to the correctness of any one of several suggested alternative answers to a iat numerecl question. The card A provides for ve alternative answers to each numbered question. In answering, for example, question No. 1, the person taking the test makes a mark in one of the five spaces lying transversely opposite the marginal number 1 on the card. In so doing he makes a mark in the space which corresponds in position to the number given that one of the suggested answers which he considers correct.

Prior to checking the test cards marked by an individual or group, the examiner sets the type of the apparatus to impose marks in the particular spaces which, for each several question, correspond in position to the number of the correct answer to each of the several questions. This setting, the action of which has been described above, causes the selecter type elements 3 to project into such position that they bear against the upper, or outer, surface of inked tape 6. It may be here noted that the operation of setting the type may be very rapidly performed, since it involves merely forcing the various appropriate operating pins 16 downwardly, and then to one side, by the use of a pencil or stylus.

A test card, which has been marked in one space of the various several rows of spaces to select a certain designated answer in the several rows as correct, is then introduced through slot S in position to lie on platen 4 with the spaces thereon in selective alignment with the several type elements 3. The card being introduced when the platen is in its lower position, handle 11 is operated to raise platen 4, and bring the test card A against the inked tape at the points where it is backed by a type element or type elements projected against its upper face. This action marks on the card, in the spaces representing a correct answer, any desired character. Acoincidence in a space of the apparatus marking and a mark made by the person taking the testindicates at a glance that the question has been correctly answered. A lack of such coincidence indicates at a glance that the question has not been correctly' answered.

When the apparatus has been set to mark the spaces corresponding to correct answers, any number of test cards or papers may be rapidly checked by merely introducing the cards A, one at a'time, and operating the handle Il..

My test checking apparatus represents an improvement over apparatus for effecting a similar purpose in the ease and rapidity with which it may be set for operation, and the ease and rapidity with which it may be operated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In test checking apparatus the combination of an inked member, a vertically movable platen mounted to one side of the inked member in co-operative relation thereto, a plurality of type elements on the other side of the Yinked member projectably mounted and operable selectively to project Yan increased distance to- Wardl said vinked member, and keeping means associated with each type element for retaining the type elements individually in position projected toward said inked member.

2. In test checking apparatus'thecombination -sheet supported thereby.

of an inked member, a vertically movable platen mounted to one side of the inked member in cooperative relation thereto, a plurality of type elements on the other side of the inked member projectably mounted and operable selectively to project an increased distance toward said inked member, a keeper associated with the several type elements, and means on each said type element engageable with the keeper to keep each type element selectively in the unprojected position orin the projected position of the type element.

3. In test checking apparatus the combination of an inked member, a vertically movable platen mounted to one side of the inked member in cooperative relation thereto, a plurality of type elements on the other side of the inked member projectably mounted and operable selectively to project an increased distance toward said inked member, a structure xedly mounted adjacent said movable platen, resilient means associated with each of the type elements urging the type element past said iixed structure, and spaced engaging means on each type element engageable alternatively with said fixed structure to keep the type element in the unprojected position and to keep the type element in the projected position.

4. In test checking apparatus the combination of a frame, a vertically movable platen carried by said frame and adapted to support a record sheet, ka plurality of marking members projectably mounted and operable selectively to project an increased distance towardV said platen, and keeping means associated with each marking member for retaining the marking members individually in position projected toward said platen'and a record sheet supported thereby.

5. In test checking apparatus the combination of a frame, a vertically movable platen carried by said frame and adapted to support a record sheet, a plurality of'marking members projectably mounted and operable selectively to project an increased distance toward said platen, a keeper associated with the several marking members, and means on each said marking mem- .ber engageableV with Vthe keeper to keep each marking member selectively in the unprojected position or in the position of the marking member projected toward said platen and a record 6. In test checking apparatus the Vcombination of a frame, a vertically movable platenfoarried by said-frame and adapted to Vsupporta recordV sheet, a plurality of marking members pro- Yjectably mounted and operable selectively to pro- 'ject an' increased distance toward said platen, 'a structure Xedly-'mounted adjacentsaid movable platen, resilient means associated with each ofthe marking "members urging-the marking member' past said fixed structure, and spaced engaging means on each marking member engageable alternatively with said xed structure to keep`the marking Ymember in the unprojected position and to keep the marking member in the projected position. Y Y

JACOB EARLE ROBERTS.Y 

